Pelt fleshing apparatus



F. FREDRICKSON PELT FLESHING APPARATUS Nov. 3, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 13, 1955 I l I Llllllllllllllllllllll||rl||||ll| flllllllllxllllll lll.

INVENTUR FRED FRE DRICKSON ATTORN S Nov. 3, 1959 F. FREnRlcKsoN PELT FLESHING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 13, 1955 /NvE/vro/a FRED FREDRlcKsoN 77 @Y Arron/vs Nov, 3, 1959 F. FREDRlcKsoN FELT FLESHING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 13, 1955 wis/vrom FRED FREDRICKSON Arron ers United States Patent O PELT FLESHING APPARATUS Fred Fredrickson, New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada Application June 13, 1955, Serial No. 515,201

14 Claims. (Cl. 69-46) This invention relates to apparatus for removing flesh from animal pelts. i

This machine is particularly designed for removing flesh from mink pelts, but it may be used for other pelts, and it may be constructed for pelts of different sizes. For the sake of convenience, the machine will be described in connection with mink pelts.

Prior to this invention, flesh adhering to animal pelts after the latter were removed from the carcasses, was usually scraped off by hand knife. This is a comparatively slow and tedious process.

The machine according to the present invention includes a long tapered pole mounted for rotation around its longitudinal axis. The pelt is turned inside out and drawn on to this pole. Suitable means is provided for securing the pelt in place, and it is desirable to maintain the pelt under tension. A carriage is provided which is movable back and forth longitudinally of the pole. This carriage supports a curved knife or ileshing blade which is so shaped and positioned that it extends around part of the pole as the carriage is moved along the latter, but is spaced outwardly from the periphery thereof. The carriage also includes means connected to the blade for moving it towards and away from the pole while the carriage is being moved longitudinally thereof. If desired, power means, such as an electric motor on the carriage, may be connected to the blade for reciprocating it through short strokes extending substantially parallel with the pole.

An example of this invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure l is a side elevation of the ileshing apparatus,

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof,

Figure 3 is a cross section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a longitudinal fragmentary section taken on 4the line 4--4 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a cross section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2,

Figure 6 is an enlarged cross section taken on the line 6 6 of Figure 2, and

Figure 7 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 7--7 of Figure 6.

Referring to the drawings, 10 is an elongated supporting frame having legs 11. A pair of parallel upper tracks 12 are carried by this frame and, if desired, a pair of lower tracks 13 may be suspended from the frame by hangers 14.

A comparatively long pelt pole 18 is supported above frame 10 substantially parallel therewith, see Figure 1. This pole preferably tapers gradually from a small end 19 to a larger end 20. The pole is mountedfor rotation around its longitudinal axis in any desired manner. In this example, a small tube 23 projects outwardly from the large end of the pole centrally thereof and removably and rotatably fits in an enlargement 24 at one end of an open channel 25, said channel curving outwardly and` downwardly from the pole, see Figures 1 2,910,856 Patented Nov. 3, `1959 ICC and 4.` The channel is supported at its opposite ends by an angle bracket 27, and the latter is carried by a support 28 which is secured to and projects upwardly from one end of frame 10.

A passage 30 in pole 18 communicates at one end with tube 23 and curves outwardly to the periphery of the pole near end 20 thereof, said passage opening out from the pole.

The pole 18 may be so mounted at'its large end that it does not need any support at its small end 19. However, in this example, it is supported at said small end. A pin 33 projects outwardlyfrom the end of the pole and rests in an open loop 34 on the end of a support 35 which has a vertical stem 36 with a curved lateral arm 37, said open loop being at the outer end of the arm, see Figure 5. The vertical part of support 35 is journalled in a bracket 39 mounted on frame 10.

When support 35 is in the position shown in Figures l, 2 and 5, it supports or braces the small end of the pole. However, when desired, pin 33 may be lifted out of loop 34 and the latter swung away from the pole around the vertical portion 36 of the support.

A pelt to be fleshed is turned inside out and drawn on to pole 18. This operation is well known in the art since it is common practice to use tapered poles for this purpose.

It is desirable to maintain a pelt on the pole under tension. For this purpose a clamping arrangement 40 is slidably mounted on the pole. This arrangement includes a pair of rings 42 slidably mounted on the pole near its larger end 20. These rings are connected by horizontal rods 43 at diametrically opposite points. Each rod extends beyond the rings towards the small end of the pole and is bent into a` bearing loop 45 from which a substantially U-shaped stop 46 depends, see Figure 3. A yoke 48 straddles the pole and has laterally projecting pins 49 which lit into loops 45. The lower or outer ends of the yoke are bent laterally to form ngers 50 which overlap stops 46. A handle 52 projects upwardly from the yoke.

A` cable 55 extends through passage 30 of pole 18, tube 23 and channel 25. This cable has: loops 56 and 57 at its opposite ends. A weight 58 is removably connected to loop 56 by a hook 59, and loop 57 is adapted to fit over the yoke handle 52.

After a pelt has been drawn on to the pole, portions thereof, usually the back feet of the animal, are placed between stops 46 and lingers 50, yoke 4S being tipped forwardly at this time, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1. When the yoke is released weight 58 causes the lingers 50 to grip the feet against stops 46. As loops 42 are slidable on the tapered pole, the weight tends to draw them towards the large end thereof, thereby maintaining the pelt under tension. The taper of the pole prevents the pelt from moving too far along the latter.

A carriage has wheels 66 riding on upper tracks 12 so that it may be moved longitudinally of' the frame 10. This carriage is low enough to pass beneath pole 13. A substantially U-shaped supporting bracket 68 depends from the carriage and carries cross members 69 at the bottom thereof, each member having wheels 70 at its outer ends which bear against the under sides of lower tracks 13. These wheels are not absolutely necessary but they help to keep the carriages on tracks 12.

A curved knifeor fleshing blade 73 is supported by the carriage near one side thereof. This blade curves upwardly and inwardly of the carriage and has a curved cutting edge 74 along one edge thereof, as clearly shown in Figure 6. The height and curve of the blade is such that the carriage moves beneath the pole, the blade extends over said pole, but is spaced therefrom. The blade may be iixedly mounted on the carriage, but it is preferable movably mounted thereon, as shown. In this example, the blade is mounted on a shaft 75 which slidably extends through a bearing tube 76, said tube being carried by brackets 77 projectingfrom the side of the carriage, see'Figures l `and 7. A spring 79 having one end connected to the tube and its opposite end bearing against the blades, tends to keep the latter in an upper position, that is, in a position spaced from, the tapered pole. The opposite end of the shaft is connected by a pitman 81 to an eccentric disc 82, said disc being mounted on a transverse shaft 83 carried by brackets 845 depending from the carriage. A pulley 8S mounted on the shaft Ais connected by a belt 86 to a small pulley 87 mounted on the shaft 88 of an electric motor 89, said motor being mounted on the bottom of bracket 68, see Figure 6. This motor turns the eccentric 82 which, in turn, reciprocates shaft 75 and fleshing blade 73 mounted on the latter. v

It is desirable to be able to tip the ileshing knife towards and away from pole 18 during the operation of the apparatus. VFor this purpose, a horizontal handle 92 is mounted on the carriage at 93, and has a nger grip 94 pivotally mounted thereon at 95. This grip normally lies at an angle to the handle so that when it is squeezed towards the latter, its inner end 96 moves downwardly.

A link 98 is secured to and extends downwardly from said end 96 and is connected to one end of a bell crank 99 which is pivotally mounted at 100 on bracket 3101 depending from the carriage. The opposite end of this crank is connected by a link 104 to an end of another bell crank 105 pivotally mounted at 106 on bracket 107 depending from the carriage. The opposite end of the latter crank is connected by a vertical link w8 to a pin 189 which is tixedly connected to the blade at 110, said link being pivotally connected to the pin at lll, see Figure 6.

The cutting knife or eshing blade 73 is actually pivotally mounted on the carriage by means of shaft 75. When grip 94 is squeezed towards handle 95, the blade is drawn downwardly towards the carriage, this movement being around the longitudinal axis of shaft 75.

The operation of this apparatus is as follows:

The pelt to be iieshed is turned inside out and drawn on to the tapered pole 18. Portions of the pelt, usually the back legs, are gripped between ngers 50 and stops 46. Then ring 57 of cable 55 is dropped over the handle 52 of yoke 48. Weight 58 draws rings 42 towards the large end of the pole firmly to hold the pelt in position. The weight also causes fingers 50 rmly to grip the pelt legs. j

With motor 89 running, the operator grips handle 92 and moves carriage 65 back and forth beneath the pole. By squeezing grip 94 towards the handle, he controls eshing knife 73 so that he can move it towards and away from the pole. As the knife curves around the pole, he can scrape or cut any ilesh adhering to the pelt away therefrom. The pole may be rotated at this time in order to get at the entire surface of the pelt. The fact that the knife is vibrating or reciprocating in a direction longitudinally of the pole makes this eshing operation very easy.

Whatl claim as my invention is:

l. In pelt fleshing apparatus, a pelt pole mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis, a carriage movable longitudinally of the pole substantially parallel therewith, a fleshing blade mounted on and projecting outwardly from the carriage, said blade being biased to a position normally spaced a little from the pole when the carriage is -moved longitudinally of the latter, and manually-operable means on the carriage and connected to the blade for moving the latter towards and away from the pole during movement of the carriage.

2. Pelt lieshing apparatus as claimed in claim l in which the tleshing blade curves at least part way around the pole, and said blade extends in cross section parallel to the axis of the pole to a cutting edge along an edge of said blade.

3. Pelt eshing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in j which the pole is tapered and is removably mounted in the apparatus.

4. Pelt ileshing apparatus as claimed in claim l ins cluding means at the pole for maintaining a pelt thereon under tension.

5. Pelt fleshing apparatus as claimed in claim l including means for rapidly reciprocating the blade on the carriage through short strokes in a direction substantially parallel to the pole.

6. Pelt eshing apparatus comprising a supporting frame, a pelt pole mounted on the frame for rotation about its longitudinal axis, track means carried by the frame and extending substantially parallel to the pole, a carriage mounted on the track means for manual movement therealong, and a eshing blade mounted on and projecting outwardly from the carriage, said blade being biased to a position normally spaced a little from the pole when the carriage is moved longitudinally of the latter and extending longitudinally of said pole.

7. Pelt fleshing apparatus as claimed in claim 6 including means slidably mounted on the pole for gripping a pelt on the latter and maintaining said pelt under tension.

8. Pelt ileshing apparatus comprising a supporting frame, a pelt pole mounted on the frame for rotation about its longitudinal axis, track means carried by the frame and extending substantially parallel to the pole, a carriage movably mounted on the track means, a fleshing blade movably mounted on and projecting outwardly from the carriage, said blade being biased to a position normally spaced a little from the pole when the carriage is moved longitudinally of the latter and extending longitudinally of the pole, and means for rapidly reciprocating the blade on the carriage through short strokes in a direction substantially parallel to the pole.

9. Pelt ileshing apparatus as claimed in claim 8 including means on the carriage for moving the blade towards and away from the pole when said carriage is being moved therealong,

l0. Pelt fleshing apparatus comprising a supporting frame, a tapered pelt pole removably mounted on the frame for rotation about its longitudinal axis, track means carried by the frame and extending substantially parallel to the pole, a carriage movably mounted on the track means, and a leshing blade mounted on and projecting outwardly from the carriage, said blade extending longitudinally of the pole and being curved so that it extends part way around the pole when the carriage is moved longitudinally of the latter and being biased to a position normally spaced a little outwardly from the pole.

1l. Pelt fleshing apparatus comprising a supporting frame, a tapered pelt pole removably mounted on the frame for rotation about its longitudinal axis, track means carried by the frame and extending substantially parallel to the pole, a carriage movably mounted -on the track means, a fleshing blade mounted on and projecting outwardly from the carriage, said blade being curved so that it extends part way around the pole when the carriage is moved longitudinally of the latter and being biased to a position normally spaced a little outwardly from the pole, and manually-operable means for moving the blade towards and away from the pole as the carriage is moved therealong.

l2. Pelt eshing apparatus comprising a supporting frame, a tapered pelt pole removably mounted on the frame for rotation about its longitudinal axis, track means carried by the frame and extending substantially parallel to the pole, a carriage movably mounted on the track means, a fleshing blade reciprocally mounted on and projecting outwardly from the carriage, said blade f4 S) being curved so that it extends part way around the pole when the `carriage is moved longitudinally of the latter and being biased to a position normally spaced a little outwardly from the pole, means on the carriage for reciprocating the blade longitudinally of the pole, and manually-operable means on the carriage for moving the blade towards and away from the pole as the carriage is moved therealong.

13. In pelt fleshing apparatus, a pelt pole mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis, a carriage movable longitudinally of the pole substantially parallel therewith, a clam-ping arrangement slidably mounted on the pole, gripping jaws on the clamping arrangement for gripping a pelt on the pole, weight means connected to the clamping arrangement for drawing the latter longitudinally of the pole to maintain a gripped peltl under tension, a fleshing blade mounted on and projecting out- Wardly from the carriage, said blade being biased to a position normally spaced `a little from the pole when the carriage is moved longitudinally of the latter, and manually-operable means on ythe ycarriage and connected to the blade for moving the latter towards and `away from the pole during movement of the carriage.

14. In pelt eshing apparatus, a pelt pole tapered from a small to a large end mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis and upon which a pelt turned inside out may be drawn, a carriage movable longitudinally of,

the pole substantially parallel therewith, a clamping arrangement slidably mounted on the pole near the large end thereof, gripping jaws on the clamping arrangement for gripping a pelt on the pole, weight means connected to the clamping arrangement for drawing the latter towards the large end of the pole to maintain a gripped pelt Under tension, a fleshing blade mounted on and projecting outwardly from the carriage, said blade being biased to a position normally spaced a little from the pole when the carriage is moved longitudinally of the latter, and manually-operable means on the carriage and connected to the blade for moving the latter towards and away from the pole during movement of the carriage.

References Cited in the ile of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS 239 Shailer June 19, 1837 60,636 Lampert Dec. 18, 1866 100,907 Lampert Mar. 15, 1870 

